KANSAN.COM  THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2010 / NEWS
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ENERGY (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Malott Hull consumes the most energy of all buildings on campus or about the same amount as 606 average U.S. homes. Smith Hull consumes the least at about the same as eight U.S. homes.
From his closet-sized office at Facilities Operations, which is located to the west of Watson Library and behind Stauffer-Flint Hall, McVey can see all the energy figures in charts and Excel spreadsheets on his computer. But looking out his lone office window he sees the greatest energy hog on main campus: Malott Hall. Science buildings require extensive ventilation and lab equipment, which have to be in place for safety. McVey said.
In 2009, Malott consumed about 57 million kilo thermal units or kbu. For perspective, McVey said in a year Malott uses as much energy as 606 average U.S. homes and costs the University more than $1 million or about 10 percent of the University's entire energy budget.
In the opposite direction of McVey's window view sits Smith Hall, which uses the least amount of energy of all the classroom buildings on campus. Using about 785,000 kBtu in a year and costing the University only $15,050, Smith consumes as much energy as only eight average U.S. homes.
Regardless of whether McVey can see the building or not, as a KU alumnus he is familiar with campus. Just like the meter readers, experience gives him an advantage when examining the statistics.
"It definitely helps to know where all the buildings are that I monitor," McVey said.
Those figures can show him anything he needs to know. In general, campus is broken down into different electrical categories. Lighting and ventilation take the most energy, and after that cooling, computer use and water heating are the big ones.
As improvements occur across
campus, Haid, the plant supervisor, said he noticed the changes. Two years ago new insulation was installed in buildings and the numbers immediately reflected that. More energy efforts including changes in lighting, insulation and plumbing will continue to lower energy consumption as part of a new contract with Energy Solutions Professionals in Overland Park, McVey said. The annual savings should add up to $2 million.
"Every Btu we save on steam, the better off we are," Haid said. "We keep trying around here to go the extra mile to make everything more efficient. The energy budget is astronomical."
Even with millions spent on energy, compared to other Big 12 schools the University is on the lower end. The University pays
$2.17 a year per square foot, while other schools such as Texas and Colorado spend more than $4. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the only Big 12 school to have the University beat — by 18 cents.
METERS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
The University's energy costs per student is $442. Colorado has the highest cost per student among Big 12 schools at $1,231 per year.
Mike Watkins, senior plumber for Facilities Operations, enters a tunnel under the Art and Design Building. He took a monthly energy reading Monday
But Josh Welfla, a junior from Reading, said he spends less than 15 minutes when he goes downtown. Welfla said he thought the new meters would be more convenient and wouldn't take away
Haid said he thought more could be done. He and his crew are always looking for ways to save energy. Just the little things such as turning off the lights and lowering the temperature could make amazing differences, he said.
"Don't say 'Oh well. They will see it eventually.' If you see something wasting energy, tell us," Haid said.
Daniel Johnson/KANSAN
Edited by Kirsten Hudson
from parking because the garages were always available.
"There would definitely be more turnover in parking," Weltha said. "It would be easier for people to get down there to do things."
According to information organized by city staff, the meters will
cost $3,400 to paint and to change the time mechanisms. It will cost another $5,640 to add meters to the two-hour lots because of the added cost to install poles. Additional pavement markings and signs will cost even more.
The meters will be painted yellow, and the words "15 minute"
might be painted near the rear of each stall to help distinguish them. The $3 overtime fines will remain the same.
The ordinance was open for public input at Tuesday's meeting as well as a previous public meeting. Fewer than five members of the public spoke at the meeting
Tuesday night. Commissioners voted 4-1, with Mayor Amyx as the only one to vote against it.
"It will an education process," Amyx said.
The meters could have a greater relevance for some businesses than others, but Hakin said she probably wouldn't be too bothered by the additional meters.
"I don't think it will make much of a difference at the end of the day," Hakin said.
- Edited by Megan Heacock
PLATFORMS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
attend games while out of town.
Had the proposal gone through, it would have lowered the overall price of the pass by $15.
The coalition also wanted to increase student seats for big games.
The coalition's plan didn't make it through, but Heilman said Athletics sold tickets for $10 during winter break to community members and students who didn't buy the all-sports combo pass.
He said there were about three or four games at which there were more student seats available.
"That's a huge part of being in this position, being able to compromise." Heilman said.
RECREATION CENTER REQUIREMENTS
The Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center put in place the coalition's proposed three-allowance policy in January.
The policy allows students to enter the recreation center if they forget their student ID up to three times, as long as they have some other form of identification.
Heilman said the student recreation advisory board played a major role in implementing the system.
"They were really the impetus
for them to start looking into the new system, which they've wanted to do, but just needed the student backing." Heilman said.
Ian McGonigle, chair of the recreation advisory board, said the board had also proposed a biometric finger reader system that would go into effect by fall break 2010.
He said that between fall break and winter break students will be able to bring in their KU ID and have their finger scanned.
After that scan they will not need to bring an ID and will simply scan their finger to enter.
TEXTBOOK NEGOTIATIONS
United Students wanted to extend the full refund date for textbooks at KU Bookstores from 30 days to two months. It also wanted to allow students to return opened prepackaged books for a partial refund.
He said he didn't know if his advice was taken into consideration, but said he had the opportunity to give KU bookstores feed back from a student's perspective.
Heilman said that the plan did not go through, but that he had offered the stores advice on how they promoted themselves, performed refunds and bought back books.
TUITION REFUNDS
Another platform United Students proposed was a class "shopping week" in which students would receive a full refund for courses dropped during the first week of classes.
After the first week, the refund scale would be gradual.
Vice President May Davis said in an e-mail that she and Heilman offered the Registrar's Office about five different scenarios to improve the refund policy.
Heilman said the registrar was hesitant to follow through with the plans in a time of budget crunches.
"To me that's not a concern I share because I think that's not money they should have anyway," Heilman said. "But that did provide them with enough justification to not move forward."
Heilman said that now the registrar had some options and maybe in a better financial climate it would focus on that.
"Overall I think it's been a successful year," Heilman said.
Please recycle this newspaper
— Edited by Katie Blankenau
Congratulations Class of 2010! You're invited to
Grad Grill
5:30-7:30 p.m. • Thursday, May 6 • Adams Alumni Center
Join us for your first alumni event. Don't miss out on all the great prizes, music and free food! No RSVP needed.
Check out www.kualumni.org/classof2010 for more details.